Professional Cycling For the Fans - What non-cyclists are reading about Lance and Alberto . . .

From a prominent football writer on SI.com:

"It's a great accomplishment that a man can sit out of such a competitive sport and then return as one of the oldest men in the race and finish third in the biggest bike race in the world. But as a teammate, Lance Armstrong strikes me as more Manny Ramirez than Tom Brady.

On the day when Astana teammate Alberto Contador virtually clinched the 2009 Tour de France title -- quite precisely, minutes after the stage was over and Contador all but copped the Tour -- Armstrong announced on his Web site, on a Twitter page and on a corporate Web site that he was forming a new team for 2010 in conjunction with RadioShack. How distasteful. How selfish.

Why couldn't Armstrong wait a few days? This day was a day to congratulate Contador and give the champ his due; instead, the New York Times (and I'm sure papers and media outlets around the world) focused on Armstrong forming a new team in that day's story about the Tour, rather than on Contador."

Strike when the iron is hot.

And btw ManRam has 1/5th the IQ of Armstrong, and 1/10th the savvy. Of course he doesn't care.

Strike when the iron is hot.

And btw ManRam has 1/5th the IQ of Armstrong, and 1/10th the savvy. Of course he doesn't care.

You forgot ManRam and his 10 times salary on 1/5th the IQ and 1/10 the savvy.;)

this is why i can't read anything from mainstream sports writers because i can't understand their references. i have no idea who manny ramierez or tom brady are, so that comparison makes no sense. not to mention they have no concept of what cycling is.

From a prominent football writer on SI.com:

"It's a great accomplishment that a man can sit out of such a competitive sport and then return as one of the oldest men in the race and finish third in the biggest bike race in the world. But as a teammate, Lance Armstrong strikes me as more Manny Ramirez than Tom Brady.

On the day when Astana teammate Alberto Contador virtually clinched the 2009 Tour de France title -- quite precisely, minutes after the stage was over and Contador all but copped the Tour -- Armstrong announced on his Web site, on a Twitter page and on a corporate Web site that he was forming a new team for 2010 in conjunction with RadioShack. How distasteful. How selfish.

Why couldn't Armstrong wait a few days? This day was a day to congratulate Contador and give the champ his due; instead, the New York Times (and I'm sure papers and media outlets around the world) focused on Armstrong forming a new team in that day's story about the Tour, rather than on Contador."

There is an answer, but Armstorng fans won't like it. He had to make the announcement while he was still on the podium. Wait 2 days and he very well could have been in 4th.

What non-cyclists are reading about Lance and Alberto . . .

The mistake you make is that you think that non-roadies read anything at all about pro cycling. Seriously, we just don't care one way or the other.

From a prominent football writer on SI.com:

"....... How distasteful. How selfish.

Why couldn't Armstrong wait a few days? This day was a day to congratulate Contador and give the champ his due......."

Maybe because starting the day after the TDF there is no coverage of anything cycling related on US TV for the next 49 weeks?

The back of the USA Today sports page (today-monday's issue) had a full page ad for Team Radio Shack and Armstrong. I agree, a bit too soon but then again non-cyclists in the USA will respond better now...in 2 weeks they won't pay attention.

i seem to remember (and i'm not going to take the time to research and exact quote) that with Vino coming back to Astana, that they basically told Armstrong and Bruyneel to take a hike. So it sounds completely reasonable for LA to rub their faces in it.

You forgot ManRam and his 10 times salary on 1/5th the IQ and 1/10 the savvy.;)

Total R I'd say it's close. Not sure Manny's getting much beyonf his salary. And Armstrongs never been popped for Ped's

i seem to remember (and i'm not going to take the time to research and exact quote) that with Vino coming back to Astana, that they basically told Armstrong and Bruyneel to take a hike. So it sounds completely reasonable for LA to rub their faces in it.

i don't disagree but the issue is ....ah nevermind...:D.

ed rader

dear god. That Bonnie what's her name, that writes for ESPN, knows absolutely nothing about cycling. The people at ESPN need to fire her and let Bobby Julich write for them. Julich, actually is a good writer. Its embarrassing that his articles are below her's on the cycling pages. Bonnie needs to get a job with the Livestrong people, because she offers absolutely no objectivity whatsoever. She makes SI.com articles look like gold.